Licenza d'amore

A nice all around WWII film of Marines coming home to music, parties and women. There were three songs by the female lead Patricia Kirkwood, and it seemed even more by the woman portraying the Russian singer played by Marina Koshetz. She was a real life opera singer who did the difficult Eugene Onegin on stage for a debut. One of the highlights was the two "prodigies" with Frank 'Sugar Chile' Robinson playing piano and singing "Caledonia" and then Joey Preston on Drums looking like a tiny Gene Krupa. Both seemed to be around 10 or 11 years old. Neither seems to have recorded anything after around 1950! I wonder what happened to them. The Garcia's (Dance Team) were superb! And Elizabetmora... did you ever find a copy? I have one if you need it.

I found this movie a bit ironic. In real life, Van Johnson married Keenan Wynn's wife. It apparently was a studio-arranged marriage because they wanted to hide that Johnson was gay...and Johnson's pal, Keenan, went along with this strange marriage. In the movie, they also end up going for the same woman...and Johnson steals her from Keenan...talk about art imitating life!

When the film begins, Mike (Johnson) and Slinky (Wynn) are coming home from the war. Mike is anxious to get home as soon as possible and marry his childhood sweetheart. All Slinky is interested in doing is taking advantage of his 'pal'. When he arranges to have Mike interviewed on the radio because he's a Medal of Honor recipient, Mike refuses....and Slinky goes on...pretending to be Mike!

There are, of course, complications. Mike is all set to get married...and his mother begs Susan, the lady who has the radio show, to keep Mike in town for a couple more days. Why? Because his girlfriend is married...and his mom wants to break it to him gently. In the meantime, Slinky is smitten with Susan...though eventually she falls for Mike. What's next? And, how do Mike and Slinky end up sharing a hotel room with a couple strangers? See the film.

When this movie debuted, it was a bomb. However, when you see it today it seems like a decent enough and entertaining film. Why it bombed, I have no idea. Perhaps folks were tired about hearing about the war and folks didn't want to see a film about two returning vets. Who knows?

Now I am NOT saying it's a great film..it sometimes tries too hard to be kooky (such as the Russian Countess). Additionally, the plot doesn't always make all that much sense...though it is enjoyable and the actors give it their all. I also liked the little kid who played the piano (Frank 'Sugar Chile' Robinson)--he was adorable and very talented....and just seeing him makes the film worth while!

Sgt. Michael Hanlon (Van Johnson) is waiting at the hospital for his first baby. He starts talking to a stranger and recounting how he met his wife. On the way home from the war, his buddy Slinky (Keenan Wynn) fakes a letter from his girl. He's not happy with Slinky who lost the original. He is offered a spot on the radio with singer Susan Malby Duncan (Pat Kirkwood), but he rejects it to go home to his sweetheart. Slinky insists on being his agent and that Hanlon needs to do the radio show.

Like any sitcom, it's full of misunderstandings and lies gone wrong. There seems to be an easier fix coming from Susan. I just don't know if it makes sense for her to keep going with more lies after the train. It's a sitcom for sitcom's sake and not a terribly funny one at that. At the end of the day, the basic premise is too heartbreaking to be funny. It could be romantic if Hanlon falls for Susan, but the chemistry isn't that great and the premise is blocking it anyways. The comedy is left to Keenan Wynn and some broad writing. There is also the music if you like that era.

British star Pat Kirkwood is a delight in her only Hollywood film. A simple plot is diluted by sticking in opportunities for a half dozen other talents to do bits which are then diminished by cutting away to others chatting! Cugat and Marina Koshetz are wasted. Ms. Kirkwood says that on the first day of shooting, Van Johnson greeted her congenially and told her, "This picture is going to be a real stinker, so we might as well have a few laughs and forget it." Actually, the film is rather fun if you accept it as a light-weight, and Kirkwood's bouncy song "Love on a Greyhound Bus" is worth the price of admission. (Singer-dancer Van Johnson neither sings nor dances!)

I started to look for things connected with my youth. the Garcias whom were a dance team are my brother and sister. I have been looking to purchase this movie and would like to know how and where.. I was very surprised to see this movie picture come up, The Garcias were a great dance team that also danced at the copacabana and other clubs of the 50's. There are other movies that they danced in most of the time with Xavier Cugat. Looking for those The internet is a wonderful thing. I am also proud to know that my brother was, in fact the first to dance with a glass of water on his head.I haven't seen it in at least 30 years. I thought it was great.